LaTesha Velez, 2010-2012 Resident

LaTesha Velez is the new Diversity Resident Librarian at the University of North Carolina at
Greensboro. She holds the Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill and received her MLS degree from North Carolina Central University in May, 2010.

LaTesha attended NCCU as a member of its Diversity Scholars program. This program was
funded by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and aims to diversify the
workforce in North Carolina libraries and encourage young librarians to explore the meaning and
implications of diversity for libraries. LaTesha hopes to further her ideas for diversifying library
patronage in her role as UNCG’s Diversity Resident Librarian.

LaTesha’s path toward librarianship was not a direct one. Although she began working in
libraries as early as 1996 as a student assistant at the University of Maryland in Germany, she
explored a career in market research and even co-owned a taxi company before returning to
librarianship. With this background in business, LaTesha has developed an interest in library
administration and management, as well as in contributing to research that can increase the
stature of the profession.

LaTesha is particularly drawn towards academic libraries because of her upbringing as a military
dependant. LaTesha views the academic community as similar to a military community in being
a highly collaborative system with a variety of diverse units and people that work towards a
common, unifying goal. In academia, that goal includes contributing to research and creating
an educated populace. LaTesha looks forward to contributing to the goals of UNCG and the
success of the University Libraries. She is excited by the opportunities that the Diversity
Resident Librarian position presents, and feels ready for any challenges that role may bring.